In the 2026 Macao WTT Champions women's singles final, Chen Yi staged a comeback after trailing 0-2 but lost to Harimoto Miu in the decider due to late-game mindset fluctuations.
On the evening of September 13, 2026, as the final point of the women’s singles final at the WTT Macau Championship landed, Chen Yi crouched by the table, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her racket.
The match had unfolded far beyond anyone’s expectations. After dropping the first two sets, most spectators in the arena believed her title hopes were dashed, but she fought back to win three straight sets, taking the lead in the match as deafening cheers erupted throughout the venue.When the score reached 8–4 in the sixth game, almost everyone assumed the championship was already hers. But
just as she let her guard down for a moment, Miho Harimoto rallied to close the gap, forcing the match into a decisive seventh game.Chen Yi fought until the very end, saving two match points in a row to tie the score at 10–10, but ultimately couldn’t hold on to the final two points.
In their
post-match commentary, Hou Yingchao and Liu Guozheng both bluntly pointed out the problem: it wasn’t that her skill level fell short of her opponent’s, but rather that her mindset wavered while she was in the lead, and her playing style became too passive—essentially, she lost to herself.Few people noticed that just three days earlier, in the semifinals, she had just come through a grueling battle to defeat Japan’s Hina Hayata. This runner-up finish is already the most impressive breakthrough of her career to date, and with the 700 ranking points earned from this tournament, her world ranking has finally returned to the top ten.
After the loss, Chen Yi made no excuses; she immediately followed her coach to the analysis room. Even her smile on the podium still carried a hint of disappointment that hadn’t fully faded.The silver medal around her neck felt cool to the touch, and everyone could see that what was more precious than the medal itself was her down-to-earth attitude—her refusal to hide or shy away from the loss.
Her weaknesses were also clearly evident: when holding a lead, she struggles to maintain the momentum of bold, aggressive play.In competitive sports, there’s no such thing as a permanent winner; this defeat will ultimately become a milestone on her path to growth.
Longtime fans know that outstanding athletes are forged through repeated setbacks. With her no-nonsense attitude—one where she never cuts corners—she’ll surely be able to keep her composure the next time she faces a similar situation. Just keep following her competitions; one day, she’ll claim the world championship title that rightfully belongs to her.
